Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with annual conferences by offering the One Matters Award (OMA) to one eligible congregation at each annual conference. At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the One Matters Award was given to one church in each of our districts. This award has a strong focus on making disciples because, by integrating into the church body, the individual may experience the personal transformation to potentially engage in the church’s mission for the transformation of the world. While most Discipleship Ministries programs focus on existing members, OMA focuses on new members. After all, ONE Matters. The following congregations received the One Matters Award in 2024:
Holy Trinity UMC, Troy (Williamsport District)
Rev. Paul Amara, former Superintendent
There are so many mission-oriented churches in the Williamsport Supervisory Area. It’s always difficult to choose one among the many for recognition for the One Matters Award.
This year, Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, located in Troy, was chosen for several reasons. Pastor Ken Brown is their pastor.
This church is growing! In 2023, nine new adult members joined the church with a profession of faith, including one baptism.
On Pentecost Sunday, the church also confirmed eight young people, six of which received membership in the church. This included baptizing three confirmands.
Kathy, the pastor’s wife, was their confirmation teacher, and at the youth’s request, with parental assistance, they started a youth fellowship program to allow the youth to continue to stay together.
On July 1, 2023, the youth met for their first meeting, and decided they wanted to meet weekly, immediately after worship on Sundays. Each week, they now gather with some of the youth members’ parents, who provide them with a meal and lesson.
This Youth group started with 8 members and at the end of 2023 the group had grown to 12 in participation. As a group, they also take part in conducting worship, often performing duties of reading scripture, as well as ushering, serving as acolytes, and playing music. They led the Tenebrae service on Good Friday.
The fellowship performs service projects and takes fun trips together. They have fundraisers and sales to benefit them monetarily, as they agreed to stay financially independent from the church.
The Youth also participate in several other mission activities.
They provide over 150 bags of food for the children in the Troy School District each week. With these programs, the Holy Trinity church is doing its part to help end food insecurity for the children in the Troy area.
The Holy Trinity church is growing and has become a beacon of hope and leader in the local community. With God’s grace they will continue to grow and bring the message of Jesus Christ to the Troy community and beyond.
May God continue to bless their ministries and missions.
